The Power of Goals

Today, I'd like to welcome Jean Mansen to the YourOnRamp blogging team.  Jean spent over 25 years in financial services world before taking some time off to spend with her mom after her father died and with her son before he left for college. After three years off, she started looking for ways to re-enter the corporate world, but retain some of the flexibility she enjoyed from her time off. Finding it difficult to build a portfolio career on her own, she readily embraced the idea and resources behind YourOnRamp.com.  We're thrilled to have Jean on the Team!

The Power of Goals “Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I’ll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I’ll give you a stock clerk.” J.C. Penny Being clear about your goals – personal and professional – is key to a successful and fulfilling journey whether you are re-entering the workforce or contemplating some well-deserved time off. The other day I stopped at a local day spa to purchase a gift certificate. While waiting for it to be wrapped, I glanced in the direction of the make-up counter, noting that my lipstick had worn off. The woman at the counter immediately read my mind, introduced me to the latest shades, and swiftly and with great confidence put a tube of lipstick on the counter next to my gift certificate. I bought the lipstick to remind myself of this woman who acted with such confidence and purpose and in such a warm and genuine way. She was a shop clerk with a goal. As I drove away, I realized that she easily could have set a goal of making one sale to each person who entered the spa. We are used to setting goals as part of our performance objectives on the job, but how many of us carry over that discipline to sabbaticals, time-off, or our job searches? And, how disciplined are we when we have no one but ourselves to whom to answer? Probably more so than you think! Look at areas of your life where you have set goals and succeeded – do you work out regularly or attend yoga or Pilates classes, do you consistently volunteer at your children’s school, participate in a book club? Review past performance assessments – seeing how you set and accomplished goals will give you the confidence to set new goals for yourself as you move into the next phase of your life. Set goals and measure your achievements and you’ll see that you are not drifting through life.